This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
PITCHER:
Jared Eickhoff, PHI at MIN ($8,100): The slate of available pitchers is, in a word, gross. There isn't a single starter who you can truly rely on, outside of maybe Jon Lester ($11,400), who happens to also be the most expensive option. However, Eickoff stands out amid a sea of ugliness as a perfect upside play at a fraction of Lester's price. The 25-year-old has struggled with consistency but has made up for it with stuff that can be dazzling. Eickoff has pitched especially well of late - 2.13 ERA and 22.1 percent K rate over his last four starts - and faces a Twins lineup that has mustered a meager .307 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, while also striking out at a 22.3 percent clip.
CATCHER:
David Ross, CHC at MIA ($2,200): If Wilson Contreras ($2,500) is in the lineup then he is a must start, but Ross has served as Lester's personal catcher, so I don't see any reason for that to change Thursday. And for his part, Ross has produced when called upon and is available at a dirt cheap price. Furthermore, Ross has actually murdered left-handed pitching (.475 wOBA, .323 ISO) and faces Wei-Yin Chen (5.22 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), who's in the midst of an abysmal season and has yielded a .355 wOBA to right-handed batters. Whoever is playing catcher for the Cubs is a steal, but expect it to be the 39-year-old Ross instead of the "sexier" rookie Contreras.
FIRST BASE:
Hanley Ramirez, BOS vs. CHW ($3,000): First base is decidedly top-heavy thanks to the lighter slate, which leaves us with a dearth of viable cheap alternatives. Having said that, Ramirez has one important thing in his favor that makes him the best of the unappealing options: he's the guy facing James Shields! It's hard to overstate how bad Shields has been over his last four starts, but the fact that he's allowed 31 earned runs over the 11.1 innings in those starts will have to be enough for this space. And while Ramirez hasn't been particularly effective, he's improved slightly of late - he's hit safely in seven of his last 10 games and added a pair of homers over the last week to boot.
SECOND BASE:
Ben Zobrist, CHC at MIA ($3,200): Let's get back to picking on Chen. After a torrid May (.406 batting average) Zobrist has cooled down some, which in turn has depressed his price to a surprisingly affordable level, especially considering the lighter slate. This seems like a perfect opportunity to take advantage, as Zobrist has crushed left-handed pitchers (.393 wOBA, .183 ISO) and should be able to feast on the struggling Chen.
THIRD BASE:
Yangervis Solarte, SDP at CIN ($2,700): Solarte has been one of the few consistent producers in San Diego, putting up solid numbers from the cleanup spot in a Padres offense that has been atrocious against right-handed pitching but outstanding against lefties (.341 wOBA, .178 ISO). Solarte has followed this trend as well, dominating left-handed pitching (.460 wOBA, .310 ISO), albeit in a small sample size - and faces John Lamb, who's improving, but has still allowed a .355 wOBA to right-handed bats.
SHORTSTOP:
Tim Anderson, CWS at BOS ($2,500): I love Xander Bogaerts ($3,700) against Shields, but if you want a cheaper option, Anderson is easily the best bargain. The 23-year-old rookie has already entrenched himself atop Chicago's lineup and has delivered solid numbers while offering a tantalizingly high ceiling thanks to his stolen base potential (he swiped 49 bags in the minors last season). Anderson has been particularly effective against right-handed pitching (.326 batting average, .363 wOBA, .209 ISO) and faces Rick Porcello, who's actually been far more effective against left-handed hitters (.261 wOBA allowed) than righties (.349 wOBA allowed).
OUTFIELD:
Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS vs. CWS ($3,400): I feel like I haven't recommended someone who's facing James Shields in a little while, so let's do that again. To reiterate: James Shiels has been really, really bad. In addition, Bradley has crushed right-handed pitching (.418 wOBA, .308 ISO), is priced extremely reasonably, and again, is facing James Shields.
Matt Joyce, PIT vs. SF ($2,500): Joyce has quietly been terrific when in the lineup (.425 wOBA, .302 ISO). In fact, he did it so quietly that I had to double check his numbers just to be sure I wasn't making a mistake. The 31-year-old platoon player has always been effective against right-handed pitching and faces rookie Albert Suarez, who's been eaten up by left-handed bats so far in his short career. For the price, Joyce might be the best value available at any position.
Steven Moya, DET vs. SEA ($2,400): Moya is doing his best J.D. Martinez impression, as the 24-year-old has put up a .381 batting average and three homers in the five games he's played since Martinez was sidelined with a broken arm. In addition, Moya (left-handed) should benefit from a matchup against a right-handed pitcher, as he faces rookie Adrian Sampson, who was beat up in his MLB debut, making Moya a nice high ceiling gamble for a very minimal investment.
